Hepatoprotective Effects of (-) Epicatechin in CCl4-Induced Toxicity Model Are Mediated via Modulation of Oxidative Stress Markers in Rats

Khadijah B Alkinani; Ehab M M Ali; Turki M Al-Shaikh; Jalaluddin A Awlia Khan; Tahani M Al-Naomasi; Soad S Ali; Asaad A Abduljawad; Osama F Mosa; Tariq A Zafar

doi:10.1155/2021/4655150

Hepatoprotective Effects of (-) Epicatechin in CCl₄-Induced Toxicity Model Are Mediated via Modulation of Oxidative Stress Markers in Rats

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Dec 22:2021:4655150. doi: 10.1155/2021/4655150. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Khadijah B Alkinani¹, Ehab M M Ali^{2

3}, Turki M Al-Shaikh⁴, Jalaluddin A Awlia Khan², Tahani M Al-Naomasi⁵, Soad S Ali^{6

7}, Asaad A Abduljawad¹, Osama F Mosa^{1

8}, Tariq A Zafar¹

Affiliations

¹ Public Health Department, Health Sciences College at Leith, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
³ Division of Biochemistry, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, 31527 Tanta, Egypt.
⁴ Department of Biology, College of Science and Arts at Khulis, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Hail University, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Asyut, Egypt.
⁷ Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Biochemistry Department, Bukhara State Medical Institute Named after Abu Ali Ibn Sino, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.

Abstract

Objective: (-) Epicatechin (EP) is a naturally occurring antioxidant flavonoid found in some green plants. The current study was designed to evaluate the potential role of antioxidant mechanisms in the hepatoprotective properties of EP using the carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute liver injury model.

Materials and methods: Rats (n = 7 per group) were divided into five groups including control group, (-) epicatechin group (20 mg·kg^-1 body weight), CCl₄ group (1 mL^-1 body weight), CCl₄-EP treatment group, and CCl₄-silymarin (SILY) group. The levels of enzymes including hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) were analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Histological studies were performed on all groups to assess the regenerative effects of test sample and compare it with the control group.

Results: Test compound EP and standard drug silymarin (SILY) considerably reduced liver function enzyme levels in the blood, which were raised by CCl₄ administration, and increased serum albumin and total protein (TP) concentrations. The hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) level was considerably declined, whereas glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) levels were upregulated in the EC-treated groups. The hepatoprotective results of the study were further confirmed via the histological assessments, which indicated a regeneration of the damaged hepatic tissue in treated rats.

Conclusions: The results of this study revealed a significant protective efficacy of EP against CCl₄-induced liver injury, which was potentially mediated via upregulation of antioxidant enzymes and direct scavenging effects of the compound against free radicals.